nerve endings.
She grabbed her glass and took a mouthful, using it to push the potato down her throat. ‘Did he?’ She put her glass back on the table. ‘What do you think you’ll do?’
He shrugged slightly. ‘I’m not sure. There’s no hurry to decide right now, but it’s something to think about.’ His gaze captured hers. ‘It’s been good to come home.’
Her chest tightened. She looked down at her plate, went through the motions of taking another forkful of food. ‘How do you think Allie would feel about it?’
‘I’d have to talk to her, of course.’ He swirled the liquid left in his glass. ‘But again, it’s not something I need to do immediately. She’s made great progress since you got us talking. I don’t want to throw anything disruptive into the mix yet.’
‘Yes. Although I think she’s quite resilient now that burden of guilt has gone. She’s really blossoming.’
‘She is, isn’t she? Maybe I’ll sound her out to see if her ideas about Port Cavill are more open now.’ His smile was filled with affection. ‘What about you?’
‘Me?’ Her eyes flew to his. ‘You have to make the best decision for you and Allie.’
‘That’s true.’ His eyes narrowed and she had the feeling his attention was suddenly scalpel sharp. ‘But what I was really asking was, what is your vision for
‘Oh.’ She pushed half a wedge of potato aside then carefully laid her knife and fork together in the space she’d created. Her fingers returned to adjust the position of the utensils before she moved the plate. ‘When I came here, I-I didn’t have a vision beyond putting myself back together after…’
‘After Peter’s death?’
‘Yes.’ She touched the base of her glass, twisting it slightly with her fingertips. ‘After Peter’s death.’
‘What about now?’
‘Now?’
‘Now that things have changed.’ With his elbows on the table, he steepled his fingers and looked at her intently. ‘Now that you’re in a relationship. How do Allie and I factor in your life?’
‘Oh. I’m-I’m not sure I want to look too far ahead.’ If she did, she’d have to face the fact that she hadn’t been scrupulously open with him. She’d have to face the things she’d baulked at telling him.
His expression fell for the tiniest instant before he covered his reaction. She’d disappointed him, hurt him. Shame cramped deep in her chest. She looked through the window at the lights reflected on the glass-smooth water of the sheltered port. In a way, Luke had offered her a safe place in the haven of his family and all she could do was selfishly protect herself. He deserved better. She wanted to give him something…
‘Luke…you and Allie are the most beautiful things that have happened in my life for the longest time.’ Her voice choked with emotion. ‘You’re both very dear to me. More than I can say.’
‘Thank you,’ he said softly, his fingers curling around hers. His smile was so sweet that the tears gathering at the back of her eyes pressed for release. ‘I’m glad. You’re very dear to me, to us.’
There was a small silence. Part of her wanted to hide from the power of her feelings. The other part revelled that she could feel so intensely.
‘Excuse me, sir, would you like to order dessert now?’
‘No, thank you,’ Luke said, still not taking his eyes off her. ‘I think what we’d like to do now is have a dance.’
‘Yes,’ she whispered. ‘That would be lovely.’
As the waiter cleared their plates away, Luke took her hand and threaded his way through the tables to the dance floor.
Dreamy notes from the string quartet had lured many other dancers to the floor already. He stopped at the edge of the floor and took Terri’s other hand, guiding her into his arms. She came to him smoothly, fitted perfectly, as he’d known she would. Her lithe body swayed to the rhythm in easy, seductive movements.
He held her right hand, cradling it close to his chest. With his right hand splayed across her back, he felt the deep inhalation expanding her rib cage, then her exhalation whispered on the skin above his collar. A groan lodged in his throat. It was heaven and hell to hold her like this. He smiled slightly. He was going to enjoy every torturous, delicious moment of it.
He tucked her closer. ‘This is nice.’
‘Yes, it is.’
He could feel her fingers stroke along his collar. God, did she know what she was doing to him? He held his needs on a tight leash. They were making progress. Sure, it was slow but they were working towards something special, something lasting. A grab for quick gratification would ruin that.
He felt another inhalation, a tiny shiver through her slender frame.
‘Luke?’
‘Mmm?’
Her footsteps slowed to a halt and she leaned back in his arms. Wide and dark eyes looked into his.
‘I-I want to stop being sensible.’
A hot streak of electricity jolted through him and his hand tightened on hers. He couldn’t have spoken to save himself.
‘Take me home, Luke. Please.’
‘Hold that thought.’ He steered her back to their table where the waiter met them with the dessert menu. ‘I’m sorry but we’re going to have to go. Would you mind organising the bill for me, please? I’ll pay at the front register.’
‘Of course, sir.’
Luke helped Terri with her lightweight shawl, his hands lingering on her shoulders before he tucked her hand into the crook of his arm. He was almost afraid to stop touching her in case the loss of contact gave her time to reconsider.
Foolish. If she changed her mind, he would find a way for that to be okay.
He brought her hand up to his mouth, kissed the delicate knuckles then let her go so he could sign the bill.
In the car, he drove feeling the weight of her silence. Was she even now thinking she’d made a mistake? He’d hurried her out of the restaurant with indecent haste.
He glanced across at her when he stopped to give-way to traffic at a roundabout. She was watching him, a small smile playing around her lips. She looked unexpectedly serene while he felt like a bundle of nervous energy.
At the beach cottage, she unlocked the door. He followed her inside, waited while she gracefully slid her shawl from her shoulders and draped it over a hook on the hall-stand.
She turned to face him then stepped close, her hands reaching for his tie.
He laid his hands over hers, stilling the fingers loosening the knot.
‘Are you sure?’ His voice was husky. How strange, he’d been so worried she’d change her mind but now it was him giving her the opportunity to reconsider.
She sighed, her hands flattening on his ribs. ‘Yes. And no.’
‘No?’ He made an effort to disguise the need that was thick in his voice. Was it possible to die of self-control? ‘I don’t want you to do anything you don’t want to, darling.’
‘I want to make love with you, Luke, but I’m afraid I’ll disappoint you. I couldn’t bear it.’
‘You won’t. You couldn’t.’ He gathered her into his arms, feeling his own nerves subside as he searched for the words to reassure her. ‘This is us, Terri. Not a competition, not a race. We’ll take it slow, we might have some hiccups, but it doesn’t matter. We’ll get there in the end, darling. Together.’
‘Together. I-I’d like that.’ Her lips pressed softly to his jaw, sending a thrill dancing through his body. ‘Thank you.’
He turned his head, captured her mouth, felt the last tiny moment of hesitation evaporate as her lips opened for him and she kissed him back. She reached up to wind her arms around his neck, her body pressed to his, her breasts flattened on his chest, her belly aligned with his. They stood hip to hip and his heart nearly burst with huge, solid beats.
She pulled away and reached for his hand. ‘Come with me.’
He followed willingly and found himself standing in her bedroom. Moonlight shone through net curtains, spilling
